Opinions

The Menurkey: A Menorah for Thanksgiving

A nine-year-old boy's idea, a once-in-a-lifetime event and a Kickstarter campaign has led to the availability of the Menurkey, a Hanukkah menorah shaped like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Conceived by New York City kid Asher Weintraub, the Menurkey celebrates this year's rare occurrence of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving overlapping. Weintraub felt the Menurkey would resonate as both holidays have similar themes of being thankful. Familiar with a 3-D modeling program, Weintraub created CAD sketches and, with his parents' help, that led to prototypes and finding a ceramic artist. Weintraub's father then started the Kickstarter campaign, and almost $50,000 was raised when it ended in September.

And now, the Menurkey is available at New York's The Jewish Museum shop and menurkey.com for $50. It is made of plaster in New Jersey.

Already the Menurkey brand includes its own iOS and iPad app, its own song on iTunes--"Hanukkah, O Hanukkah (Introducing the Menurkey!)" by The Dirty Sock Funtime Band--its own logo and T-shirt. A limited-edition ceramic Menurkey is also available.--Andrea Lillo